Through three games of the 2025-26 season, all eyes have been on Virginia Tech men's basketball freshman Neoklis Avdalas and rightfully so. He is one of the most exciting rookies in college basketball and is headed for the NBA Draft next season, raising his stock.
Providence coach Kim English spoke highly about Avdalas after he dropped 33 points on the Friars last Saturday afternoon's 107-101 overtime win for the Hokies at Mohegan Sun. In Wednesday night's 35-point rout of Saint Joseph's, Avdalas had 14 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
Avdalas, West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry, and Tobi Lawal have been some of the other headline players early this season, but one returning player who is playing very good but doesn't always get noticed is sophomore Tyler Johnson. After the win over Saint Joseph's, head coach Mike Young had a strong take on his talented Florida native.
Mike Young calls Tyler Johnson "glue guy''
After the Hokies rolled to a 94-59 win at Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday night, Young was very complimentary of Johnson.
"Awesome,'' Young said. "Don't want to have him off the floor. Everybody has a glue guy. Talk about glue guys in basketball. May not be the best of this, may not be the best of that, but I'll tell you one thing: he affects winning. His hustle, his toughness, his rebounding, his athleticism at the rim in transition. He's a good one. He's a good one. I'm thrilled to coach him."
All Johnson did against the Hawks was score 11 points, grab four rebounds, and had three steals. All in a night's work. Last season as a freshman, Johnson started 28 of Virginia Tech's 32 games and averaged 25.5 minutes a game, 6.7 points, and 4.8 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 guard, through three games already this year, is averaging just 11 points a game, 4.7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Young has one of the most improved teams not only in the ACC, but in the country. There is a lot of basketball left this season, but as fans saw last year, Johnson is someone who does affect winning and does a lot of the little things. He went through some tough times as a freshman in 2024-25, and those growing pains should serve as a springboard for this season with many more talented players around him.